FC Barcelona have to move against Celta Vigo in midfield, while the defense has to watch out for the goal-threatening offensive of the guests. In addition, Barça longs to build on incredible statistics, while Celta Vigo has to win. The preview of Barcelona vs. Celta Vigo.
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FC Barcelona welcomes early Sunday evening (6:30 p.m., live in the ticker on Barçawelt.de) Celta Vigo in Camp Nou. For some, it’s all about saving face – others have their last chance. The latter does not apply to Barça, but to Celta Vigo, because Eduardo Coudet’s team occupies eighth place in the table with 50 points, five points behind Villarreal and Betis – so they still have a chance of participating in the Conference League. In theory, Barça still have title chances, but nobody believes that anymore.
For the first time this season, Barça will have to do without Frenkie de Jong in their everyday league. The Dutchman saw the fifth yellow card in the competition in the 3: 3 against the UD Levante, which means that he is now suspended. So far, the 23-year-old has participated in all 36 games in the national league, and started 34 games in the starting line-up.
Ilaix Moriba or Riqui Puig – Who will replace Frenkie de Jong?
De Jong’s suspension may give Ilaix Moriba a chance to prove himself all over again. His dynamism could suit FC Barcelona well. Like de Jong, Moriba has the ability to create spaces in midfield in order to initiate attacks by the Blaugrana. However, the 18-year-old was not even substituted for Levante; here Ronald Koeman brought in another La Masia graduate for the last few minutes, who can also hope for playing time through Frenkie de Jong’s suspension.
We are talking about Riqui Puig, who has not been taken into account by the former bond coach in recent weeks – with the exception of the Levante game. After a brief outreach during the week, which was once again invigorating, the 21-year-old played a bit in the focus, also because Pedri was unable to make any really lively performances in the past few weeks. If Ronald Koeman longs for liveliness or dynamism out of midfield, one of the two youngsters would probably take the place of the suspended Dutchman – a use of Miralem Pjanic seems unlikely, so he was last on the field in a league game in February against Elche.
Iago Aspas and Santi Mina create a goal threat at Celta Vigo
But not only Barça have to do without their midfield engine. Renato Tapia is missing from Galicia due to a thigh injury. A meeting with him would have been painful for any Blaugrana player, after all, the Peruvian has already collected 12 yellow cards in 32 games; his robust gait will be missed at Celta.
For this, trainer Coudet can also fall back on two impeccable strikers against Barça. Both Iago Aspas and Santi Mina spurred the Celestes offensive this season. While Aspas shone in the first half of the season and made Celta Vigos the most successful goalscorer in La Liga history, in the second half of the season the supporters of Celtas realized that with Mina, other offensive players in the team can also radiate constant goal danger after a long time; the striker, who was born in Vigo, scored nine goals in the 2021 calendar year.
Barça’s defenders around Ronald Araujo, Gerard Piqué and Clément Lenglet (Oscar Mingueza helps out in the playoff game from Barça B and is therefore not available to the first team) have to prepare for an explosive attacker at Santi Mina, who is dynamic with clever runs pulls out of the half-spaces into the dangerous zones in order to quickly find the end. Position errors like the last time we played against Levante cannot be allowed on Saturday.
Job in danger: Koeman needs victory
It seems extremely likely that Celta will also play an active role in Catalonia, as Eduardo Coudet’s side need three points to keep their hopes for seventh place and thus qualification for the UEFA Conference League alive. With five points behind Villarreal and Real Betis, the Galicians have to win at Camp Nou and hope that one of the two competitors or both do not win. Ideally, this is even Betis. Because on the last day of the match, Aspas and Co. will face a direct duel with Betis – it could turn into a real final for Europe, provided Celta defeats Barça. Against Celta Vigo, the Blaugrana meet a team that has won the last four La Liga games. The last time Celta had five wins in a row was in April 2001.
So much is at stake for Celta, for Barça it’s all about a conciliatory end to the season. With four points behind Atlético Madrid, the title is barely within reach; it is now a matter of finishing the league well with two successes – especially for coach Ronald Koeman, who otherwise has to worry even more about his job.
Not only Koeman, but also Lionel Messi could be the focus on Sunday. Should the Blaugrana captain not renew his contract, which expires in June, and see the yellow card against Celta (it would be his fifth this season), this would be his last game in the dress after 21 years of FC Barcelona – including La Masia training the Blaugrana.
More about Messi’s contract situation with FC Barcelona:
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